WEEK OF MARCH 13, 2025
VOLUME 80 | ISSUE 21
$2
Federal public safety funding remains frozen Governor Polis promises to find ways to ‘bridge the gap’ BY LINDSEY TOOMER COLORADO NEWSLINE
Shaun White warms up with a few tricks at SNÖBAHN in Thornton on March 4. White stopped into the action sports center to do interviews with local PHOTO BY ELISABETH SLAY media and skate with local youth boarders.
Shaun White promotes Snow League in Thornton Snowboarding legend visits SNÖBAHN to lend tips, skate with kids
BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
It’s not often an arguable top-10 athlete of all time stops in for a session in your hometown. But that’s what kids in Thornton got on March 4 when snowboarding legend Shaun White pulled up to SNÖBAHN Action Sports Center. The three-time Olympic gold medalist and 15-time X Games gold medalist was in the Denver area ahead of the debut of Shaun White’s The Snow League at Buttermilk Ski Resort in Aspen. Beginning on March 7, the league is dubbed “the first professional winter sports league entirely dedicated to snowboarding and freeskiing.” The inaugural event will see some of the world’s top snowboarders compete head-tohead in the halfpipe on NBC and Peacock.
The qualifying day is March 7, and the finals are on March 8. “I mean, look, Colorado, it’s hard to compete with it,” White said. “It’s one of the best places in the world for winter sports and the people are amazing. I’ve had plenty of memories and plenty of things happen for me here. And so, we’re so proud to kick off the league event here and support SNÖBAHN. I try to work in the places that I’ve had great experiences and have been good to me … Aspen’s one of, if not the most talked about, world destination for winter sports, plus just the vibe and the culture and all that. It’s a scene in many ways. I’ve had some amazing experiences there. All the stars really aligned.” About the Snow League
Season one features a four-event global format boasting a $1.6 million prize purse,
VOICES: PAGE 8 | CULTURE: PAGE 10 | BRIEFS: PAGE 16
with athletes competing to earn points to determine the overall champions. After the season debut at Buttermilk in Aspen Snowmass this week, the event moves to Yunding Secret Garden in China on Dec. 4–6, where 16 of the world’s top freeskiers will join the roster at the Beijing 2022 Olympic venue. The League returns to Aspen next Feb. 26–28 and concludes at LAAX, Switzerland, next March 19–21, where the first-ever Snow League World Champions will be crowned. The event features reigning Olympic gold medalist Ayumu Hirano of Japan, PyeongChang Olympic silver medalist Liu Jiayu of China, Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Sena Tomita of Japan, along with U.S. Olympians Chase Josey, Lucas Foster and Maddie Mastro. SEE SNOW LEAGUE, P18
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on March 3 urged the Trump administration to comply with a court order prohibiting the federal government from freezing funding, highlighting $69.5 million in public safety grants promised to the state. At the end of January, President Donald Trump issued a sweeping freeze on federal spending, which a federal judge soon temporarily blocked. State officials said more than $570 million that Congress approved for Colorado remained inaccessible in early February. A news release from Polis, a Democrat, said the administration has stopped paying for Homeland Security grants allocated to the state in defiance of a court order mandating funding be disbursed. The release said the state will do “everything it can to bridge the gap in funding.” “In Colorado, we are focused on improving public safety and this delay and uncertainty makes us less safe,” Polis said in a statement. “Common sense support to improve safety for Boys and Girls Clubs, places of worship, stopping school violence, and SEE FUNDING, P7
2025
VOTE NOW March 1st - April 15th
WESTMINSTERWINDOW.COM • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA